PhD student position at the IIMCB Laboratory of Protein Metabolism in Development and Aging

Laboratory of Protein Metabolism in Development and Aging

International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw

is seeking PhD student

Location: Warsaw, a vibrant city with an international academic research environment. International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (www.iimcb.gov.pl) – one of the most dynamic and top ranked Polish research institutes.

Job description: Laboratory of Protein Metabolism in Development and Aging, which will be opening on August 2017, is seeking highly motivated PhD candidates to join our young team investigating the protein homeostasis in development and aging. We use both genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches, primarily in the C. elegans, to study proteolytic networks. PhD fellowship is funded in frame of National Science Centre OPUS grant.

Summary: Organismal development or environmental stimuli challenge the homeostatic protein balance (proteostasis) of individual cells, tissues or the entire organism. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a key determinant of proteostasis as it regulates the turnover of damaged proteins supporting cellular protein homeostasis and thereby maintains the proteome during stress and aging. Our long-term objective is to understand the mechanistic and developmental aspects of protein degradation pathways defined by combinations of particular ubiquitin ligases (E3). The identification of stress and aging-induced signals that coordinate the interplay between specific E3s will offer intriguingly new mechanistic insights how proteolytic networks are fine-tuned to maintain the cellular proteome and support development and longevity.

Qualifications:
• master degree in any field related to biological sciences obtained within the last two years;
• general laboratory experience;
• expertise in either of the following areas will be preferred: cell biology, molecular biology, genetics,  biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy
• analytical and creative thinking;
• ability to communicate knowledge in English (written and spoken);
• motivation and passion for experimental work;
• excellent interpersonal skills.

How to apply: 
Please send your application to the e-mail address: wpokrzywa@iimcb.gov.pl, until 20th September 2017. The application should include cover letter, CV including candidate’s research achievements, university scores, and marks for candidate’s master degree. Thanking all applicants for their interest, we will contact only selected candidates for an interview.
Please include in your application the following statement: “In accordance with the personal data protection act from the 29th of August 1997, I hereby agree to process and to store my personal data by the Institution for recruitment purposes”.
The recruitment procedure fulfills the National Science Centre’s regulations on granting the scholarships to young scientists.

Selected publications:
Riga T*, Pokrzywa W*, Kevei E, Akyuz M, Vishnu Balaji, Svenja Adrian, Hoehfeld J, Hoppe T. (2017). The ubiquitin ligase CHIP integrates proteostasis and aging by regulation of insulin receptor turnover. Cell. 169: 470-482.

Ackermann L, Schell M, Pokrzywa W, Gartner A, Schumacher B, Hoppe T. (2016). E4 ubiquitin ligase specific degradation hubs coordinate DNA double strand break repair and apoptosis. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 23: 995-1002

Kaushik S, and Cuervo AM (2015). Proteostasis and aging.  Nat Med. 21, 1406-15

Frumkin A, Dror S, Pokrzywa W, Bar-Lavan Y, Karady I, Hoppe T, Ben-Zvi A. (2014). Challenging muscle homeostasis uncovers novel chaperone interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Mol Biosci., doi: 10.3389

van Oosten-Hawle P, and Morimoto RI (2014). Organismal proteostasis: role of cell-nonautonomous regulation and transcellular chaperone signaling. Genes & Dev. 28: 1533-43

Segref A, Kevei E, Pokrzywa W, Mansfeld J, Schmeisser K, Livnat-Levanon N, Ensenauer R,  Glickman M.H, Ristow M, Hoppe T. (2014). Pathogenesis of human mitochondrial diseases is modulated by reduced activity of the ubiquitin/proteasome-system. Cell Metab. 4:642-652

Pokrzywa W. and Hoppe T. (2013). Chaperoning myosin assembly in muscle formation and aging. Worm. 2:e25644

Gazda L*, Pokrzywa W*, Hellerschmied D, Loewe T, Forné I, Mueller-Planitz F, Hoppe T, Clausen T. (2013). The myosin chaperone UNC-45 is organized in tandem modules to support myofilaments formation in C. elegans. Cell. 1, 183-195.

Kuhlbrodt K, Janiesch PC, Kevei E, Segref A, Barikbin R, and Hoppe T (2011). The Machado-Joseph disease deubiquitylase ATX-3 couples longevity and proteostasis. Nat Cell Biol. 13, 273-81

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